Bad Battery, Starter, or Alternator?

[sandorjoben]

Scenario:

Yesterday went to take my 1987 V15 w/305tbi to work, battery is drained(thought I left the parking lights on, but don't remember now if the switch was pulled out at all). Boosted the truck after work(took another family vehicle), and took it for a good long run, went out later last night ...started fine.

This morning, took the GF to work... started fine, stop at home for 1/2 hour this morning after dropping the GF off at work, go to start the truck to go to work... dead, no lights, nothing, also, I definitely did not leave the lights on. Go to boost the truck, lights work with the cables attached to the good battery/vehicle, clicking sound and slight(1/2 sec) turnover attempt then only clicking, but no start, left the cables on for 10 minutes with other car running, try again, same thing. Disconnect the cables and the battery remains completely discharged. Repeat process, same results. Get a ride to work, truck is dead. Suggestions?

Dave

[N2TRUX]

The first thing I would look at are grounds. Check all the ground connections at the battery, frame, etc. Be sure to closely inspect your positive and negative cables. I had one split on the bottom and it corroded from the inside out.

Take the battery out and have it load tested. Its possible it has a bad cell. It might be a bad starter, but sound more like a battery going bad.

[sandorjoben]

Yeah was gonna take the battery down to the parts store after work for a free load test and will likely go from there, the battery is only 4 months old and is still under warranty.

[KQQL IT]

Also you can touch the battery when its running if its hot to touch, it may have gone to ground inside of itself

[sandorjoben]

Got home from work, dug out the electrical tester, load tested the battery, read 12.5 volts, and started no problem, took it for a drive, stopped it several times, shut it down, leaving it for varying periods and started no problem. Any ideas now? I'm gonna check the grounds on Saturday when I have the chance, and hopefully it starts consistently between now and then.

[Goldfinger]

Check the wires to the alternator connections to the junction block on the firewall and wires to the starter. On this circuit i've had many problems from not starting at all to Catching fire. Also wiggle the grounds to the body that can prevent it from working

[red rumbler]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

The first thing I would look at are grounds. Check all the ground connections at the battery, frame, etc. Be sure to closely inspect your positive and negative cables. I had one split on the bottom and it corroded from the inside out.

Take the battery out and have it load tested. Its possible it has a bad cell. It might be a bad starter, but sound more like a battery going bad.

x2

[sandorjoben]

Found the problem after I came outta the bank last night and found I had no power. Turned the headlight switch "ON", popped the hood, shook the positive, then negative battery cable, lights came on when I moved the negative. Turns out the negative had worked itself loose enough to go between having enough contact to complete the circuit and not enough and losing power. Got home and checked the threads on the negative connector and they're pretty worn so I may just get a new negative cable.

Dave

Don't know now if boosting it the other day was a good idea or not in retrospect but at least its starting consistently